Steam Next Fest has started and the first demo hits have already emerged
The 15 most popular games at the start of Steam Next Fest: Number 1 shows why the event is so important
Steam Next Fest has started and the first demo hits have already emerged. However, the most played title doesn’t just stand out because of the number of downloads.
The second Steam Next Fest 2025 has started and gives youuntil June 16 at 7 p.m.the chance to try out over 2,000 upcoming games for free. While some demo versions will remain available after the event, others will disappear in a few days.
The first game fans have already played their way through the event and tried out a few titles. It has also become clear which demos players find particularly interesting. In addition, the number 1 spot shows why the event is so important for fans.
We’ve picked out the 15 most played titles from Steam Next Fest. An overview of all 2,000 demos can be found on Steam
1st place – Vindictus: Defying Fate
- Genre:Action/Role-playing
- Developer:Nexon
- Publisher: Nexon
Vindictus: Defying Fate is an action-packed role-playing game in which you must perfect your combat skills against powerful boss enemies in classic Souls style in order to emerge victorious from the battlefield. You can choose between different characters with unique abilities that you can use to travel through a ruthless fantasy world and follow a classic role-playing story.
Mixed feedback: The demo of Vindictus: Defying Fate sounds extremely interesting to many players, with over 40,000 people playing simultaneously on Steam at times. However, it only managed to convince half of them.Only 46 percent of reviews are positive, which shows once again why it is so important to be able to try out games.
The criticismis difficult to break down into specific points. These include technical problems, outdated controls, distracting visual effects, and questionable privacy policies. On the other hand, the interesting and coolly designed enemies have received a lot of praise. Opinions are completely divided when it comes to the combat system.
The most played demos at a glance
- 2nd place:Jump Ship(Genre: Mix of first-person and space shooter for co-op fans – Developer: Keepsake Games – Simultaneous players: 9,843)
- 3rd place:Pioner(Genre: Action MMO role-playing game in the style of Fallout and Stalker – Developer: GFAGAMES – Simultaneous players: 9,661)
- 4th place:Half Sword(Genre: Humorous medieval sword fighting simulation – Developer: Half Sword Games – Simultaneous players: 7,870)
- 5th place:Stellar Blade(Genre: High-quality sci-fi soulslike previously released exclusively on PS5 – Developer: Shift Up Corporation – Simultaneous players: 5,568)
- 6th place:UFL(Genre: Free soccer simulation with licensed players – Developer: XTEN Limited – Simultaneous players: 5,058)
- 7th place:Escape from Duckov(Genre: Top-down extraction shooter – with ducks – Developer: Team Soda – Simultaneous players: 4,164)
- 8th place:Warborne Above Ashes(Genre: Colorful sci-fi mix of MMORPG and MOBA – Developer: Pumpkin Studio – Simultaneous players: 3,515)
- 9th place:Star Birds(Genre: Relaxed resource management game from the makers of Village Romantic – Developer: Toukana Interactive – Simultaneous players: 3,038)
- 10th place:Deltarune Chapter 1 & 2(Genre: Pixelated role-playing game with a complex storyline and unique combat system – Developer: tobyfox – Simultaneous players: 2,545)
- 11th place:Dead As Disco(Genre: Stylish rhythm combat game set in a colorful disco – Developer: Brain Jar Games – Simultaneous players: 2,476)
- 12th place:Quarantine Zone: The Last Check(Genre: Simulation in which you manage your own quarantine zone during a zombie apocalypse – Developer: Brigada Games – Simultaneous players: 2,424)
- 13th place:Ratatan(Genre: Stylish rhythm roguelike with varied combat and numerous characters – Developer: TVT Co. Ltd./Ratata Arts – Simultaneous players: 1,789)
- 14th place:Ball X Pit(Genre: In a dark fantasy world, you fight your enemies with bouncing balls in this action roguelite – Developer: Kenny Sun – Simultaneous players: 1,659)
- 15th place:Mimesis(Genre: Co-op survival horror in which your opponents imitate your teammates – Developer: ReLU Games – Simultaneous players: 1,601)
The 15 games listed above are just a tiny glimpse of what awaits you at Steam Next Fest. Last weekend also saw the Summer Game Fest, a major industry event at which the new Call of Duty was unveiled, among other things.
emerge. However, the most played title doesn’t just stand out because of the number of downloads.
The second Steam Next Fest 2025 has started and gives youuntil June 16 at 7 p.m.the chance to try out over 2,000 upcoming games for free. While some demo versions will remain available after the event, others will disappear in a few days.
The first game fans have already played their way through the event and tried out a few titles. It has also become clear which demos players find particularly interesting. In addition, the number 1 spot shows why the event is so important for fans.
We have selected the 15 most played titles from Steam Next Fest for you. An overview of all nearly 2,000 demos can be found on Steam
1st place – Vindictus: Defying Fate
- Genre:Action/Role-playing
- Developer:Nexon
- Publisher: Nexon
Vindictus: Defying Fate is an action-packed role-playing game in which you must perfect your combat skills against powerful boss enemies in classic Souls style in order to emerge victorious from the battlefield. You can choose between different characters with unique abilities that you can use to travel through a ruthless fantasy world and follow a classic role-playing story.
Mixed feedback: The demo of Vindictus: Defying Fate sounds extremely interesting to many players, with over 40,000 people playing simultaneously on Steam at times. However, it only managed to convince half of them.Only 46 percent of the reviews are positive, which shows once again why it is so important to be able to try out games.
The criticismis difficult to break down into specific points. These include technical problems, outdated controls, distracting visual effects, and questionable privacy policies. On the other hand, the interesting and coolly designed enemies have received a lot of praise. Opinions are completely divided when it comes to the combat system.
The most played demos at a glance
- 2nd place:Jump Ship(Genre: Mix of first-person and space shooter for co-op fans – Developer: Keepsake Games – Simultaneous players: 9,843)
- 3rd place:Pioner(Genre: Action MMO role-playing game in the style of Fallout and Stalker – Developer: GFAGAMES – Simultaneous players: 9,661)
- 4th place:Half Sword(Genre: Humorous medieval sword fighting simulation – Developer: Half Sword Games – Simultaneous players: 7,870)
- 5th place:Stellar Blade(Genre: High-quality sci-fi soulslike previously released exclusively on PS5 – Developer: Shift Up Corporation – Simultaneous players: 5,568)
- 6th place:UFL(Genre: Free soccer simulation with licensed players – Developer: XTEN Limited – Simultaneous players: 5,058)
- 7th place:Escape from Duckov(Genre: Top-down extraction shooter – with ducks – Developer: Team Soda – Simultaneous players: 4,164)
- 8th place:Warborne Above Ashes(Genre: Colorful sci-fi mix of MMORPG and MOBA – Developer: Pumpkin Studio – Simultaneous players: 3,515)
- 9th place:Star Birds(Genre: Relaxed resource management game from the makers of Village Romantic – Developer: Toukana Interactive – Simultaneous players: 3,038)
- 10th place:Deltarune Chapter 1 & 2(Genre: Pixelated role-playing game with a complex storyline and unique combat system – Developer: tobyfox – Simultaneous players: 2,545)
- 11th place:Dead As Disco(Genre: Stylish rhythm combat game set in a colorful disco – Developer: Brain Jar Games – Simultaneous players: 2,476)
- 12th place:Quarantine Zone: The Last Check(Genre: Simulation in which you manage your own quarantine zone during a zombie apocalypse – Developer: Brigada Games – Simultaneous players: 2,424)
- 13th place:Ratatan(Genre: Stylish rhythm roguelike with varied combat and numerous characters – Developer: TVT Co. Ltd./Ratata Arts – Simultaneous players: 1,789)
- 14th place:Ball X Pit(Genre: In a dark fantasy world, you fight your enemies with bouncing balls in this action roguelite – Developer: Kenny Sun – Simultaneous players: 1,659)
- 15th place:Mimesis(Genre: Co-op survival horror in which your opponents imitate your teammates – Developer: ReLU Games – Simultaneous players: 1,601)
The 15 games listed above are just a tiny glimpse of what awaits you at Steam Next Fest. Last weekend also saw the Summer Game Fest, a major industry event at which the new Call of Duty was unveiled, among other things.
